SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — South Dakota’s education department received a nine-figure funding boost from the federal government Wednesday.
The $127 million payment is part of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 relief plan. South Dakota had received $255 million for schools on March 24, the state receives the rest of their funding after presenting the federal government with details on how officials plan to spend it.
The state education department says the money will go toward keeping schools open and re-engaging students who fell behind during the pandemic. The department also plans to hire more counselors, nurses and special education instructors.
“South Dakota is pleased to be among the first states to have their plans approved. South Dakota schools also were among the first in the nation to reopen their doors at the start of the 2020-21 school year,” said Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson said in a press release. “Our plan identifies three priorities for the next few years: supporting strong instruction and educational opportunities, addressing students’ mental health needs, and focusing on the educator workforce. As we move forward, we will continue to evaluate data and engage with stakeholders as we identify strategies to support engagement and learning for all students.”
The plan estimates South Daktoa public school enrollment at 139,566 for the upcoming academic year.
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